Cleaning the cradle (Page 1/2)
Wichita APR 16, 07:36 AM
What do you use for cleaners or methods to get the cradle completely cleaned for prepping and painting?

TheDuke APR 16, 08:20 AM
ideally i would use a sandblaster if you have access to one or a shop to send it to
Tony Kania APR 16, 10:13 AM
Sand blasting for the win. Local shops can do this for the cheap.
theogre APR 16, 11:49 AM
Cleaning what you see is only part of problem...
Many areas are hidden to you still lets water etc in and rots from inside.

So might look good on outside w/ your new paint but still is weak and still rusting inside.

Is why GM and others "dip" many things besides the car w/ rust protection.

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

fierofrenzy APR 18, 08:19 AM
Wich….. nix the paint, use POR-15 ! This stuff is awesome. You could use a wire brush wheel on a electric drill to clean up your cradle. But sandblasting is still the best... problem is finding someone with one.
olejoedad APR 18, 09:25 AM
I use old gasoline to remove the oil and grease. I catch the excess on a plastic sheet and save it to start the brush pile.
You need to remove the greasy crud before attacking the rust and old finish.
Eastwood chassis paint is great stuff. Their rust reformer is also very good.
Not a fan of POR-15, have seen too many problems with it over the years.
pmbrunelle APR 18, 11:18 AM

quote
Originally posted by olejoedad:
Not a fan of POR-15, have seen too many problems with it over the years.



What problems do you see? Do they involve painting over rust, or on surfaces that have been wirebrushed smooth?

I use POR-15, but mostly on parts sandblasted to white metal.
olejoedad APR 18, 12:22 PM
As with most coatings, improper surface prep prior to application.
We've had many instances where any type of mechanical impact causes large pieces to come off of the surface.
POR-15 also doesn't hold up well on surfaces that are exposed to sunlight, it needs to be painted over if that is the case.
And, I'm not a big fan of gloss black, unless it's exterior paint. I'm a semigloss black guy.

When properly prepped, applied, and protected, I'm sure it does a good job.

The Eastwood system is just easier and less expensive.
Steel APR 18, 12:23 PM
I pressure wash it, remove any big chunks with a scraper/wire brush/wheel then hit it with a media blaster.

Kevin87FieroGT APR 18, 08:43 PM
Clean as mentioned above. We used S.E.M. Chassis Saver. It's very durable and resistant to chipping and flaking. Did the job 6 years ago and it still looks fresh. Comes in a semi-gloss black color that matches the OEM paint on the cradle. Wear gloves when working with the stuff or you'll chassis save your hands!

[This message has been edited by Kevin87FieroGT (edited 04-18-2020).]